Author's note: Well, here it is, the wedding. I'd love to hear your comments. Enjoy!
Always, LJ
The three honor guard members who had been outside the Phoenix escorted the eight of us to the back of the seating area. There were no flowers, or bunting, or any trimmings associated with a wedding. The chairs were scavenged from all over the camp, and at least half of the guests were standing. But everyone had made an effort to look sharp and polished, and the smiles directed at me and my attendants were genuinely delighted. The three Elders stood at the alter, resplendent in formal tunics, or in Elder Evana's case, tunic dress. She had her hair in a high coronet on top of her head, two chains hanging from it, attaching a wimple-like veil that hung gracefully just under her chin.
And at the front stood Canderous, looking splendid in his armor, Helm under his arm, cape sweeping his heels, with Jarxel on his right. Carth, Atton, Bao Dur, Jolee, Dustil, and Disciple were in their best armor and robes, looking scrubbed and handsome. I spotted Stefan in the front row, the only family of the bride, smiling and genuinely pleased. The honor guard had marched ahead of us down the aisle, spacing themselves evenly along it, and were standing at parade rest.
I could not have asked for a more beautiful wedding.
The pipes and drum began their cadence, and Danni walked the aisle between the crowded chairs, strewing dried flower petals, - the only concession to my traditions - with professional precision, doll clutched firmly under her arm. Megari followed at a stately pace, keeping a sharp eye on her daughter. Lorna came next, beaming, followed by Ladria, Visas, Mission, and Mira. I swear I saw Mira wink at Dax as she passed him, but good soldier that he was, he never twitched. He was on my side of the aisle, the place of my Champion. Kelborn, the highest rank in the honor guard, was directly across from him. The women took their places on the left side, turning to wait for me. In the absence of flowers, they clasped their hands lightly in front of them.
Then the music changed, and I recognized after a moment the traditional wedding music of Onderon, laboriously played on pipes, but recognizable. Canderous must have insisted on it, and I threatened to dissolve into a puddle right there. I looked up, and his blue eyes were practically glowing at me. I straightened my spine and walked down the aisle.
That's my girl, I heard, and I fixed my eyes on his.
I now understood why there are usually flowers at a wedding; it gives your hands something to do. I don't like swinging my arms at my sides, so I kept one on the hilt of my right sword as I approached. I hoped the other wasn't dangling like a broken pendulum. Then Canderous smiled, and I forgot everything but the fact that I was really here now, we were getting married, and that was the happiest thought in the universe.
You look beautiful, cyar'ika. I'm sorry I didn't say so earlier.
You were distracted. I forgive you, I answered, and smiled.
The pipes and drum stopped, and I halted, still smiling at Canderous. He winked back, and I stifled a giggle.
"Who approaches this sacred ground?" Elder Evana asked in a clear voice.
"Jennet Adriadne Jax, betrothed of the Mandalore," I answered, managing to keep my voice strong without shouting.
"Stand forth, and be recognized," she said, and I took the last two steps. She nodded, and all three Elders bowed to me.
"Canderous Calder Ordo, our Mandalore, do you claim Jennet Adriadne Jax as your Mate?" Elder Evana turned her attention to Canderous.
"I do," he said in a clear, deep voice, and I felt my toes tingle.
"Jennet Adriadne Jax," Elder Evana said, turning to me, "Do you claim the Mandalore as your Mate?"
"I do," I answered, glowing with the words.
"And by what proof do the both of you base this?" She challenged.
"We have stood the Trials, and by the Elder's judgment, she is proved to be my Mate, and I hers." Canderous said.
"I concur," I added.
"Let it be known to this company," intoned Elder Gregor, "That the Trials have proved this is so."
"Mandalore, you may claim your Mate," Elder Evan said.
Canderous carefully placed the Helm on a stand behind him, stepped over to me, and took my hand. I looked into his blue eyes and saw everything I ever wanted. I discretely as possible sniffled.
Don't cry now, Wildcat, Canderous sounded amused.
I'm not, I lied.
"Who will give the histories of this man and this woman, that their families be bound to the Clan?" Elder Drane said in his raspy voice.
"I will," and to my surprise, Disciple stepped forward. I had known that he had gathered the information, but thought it would be Jarxel who would be reciting it.
He did the work, he should get the credit, Canderous said in my head. Jarxel has other duties.
That was generous of you, I said approvingly.
I like the kid, he said, giving a mental shrug. And he deserves it.
Disciple read out the family histories in his clear precise voice, making even the boring list sound rather dramatic. I was proud of him, and gave him a brilliant smile around the bulk of my Mate. He blushed a little, but smiled back. Elder Evana nodded at him, and he returned to his place in line.
"Who here will bear witness to this union, and swear to any who challenge it of its truth?" Elder Evana called.
"I will," Jarxel said, stepping forward.
"And I," Mira moved to stand by him.
"You are charged by the Clans to keep this truth, and stand against any who may challenge it. Are you prepared to do so?" Elder Gregor stepped in front of them and glowered as if they might say no. I refrained again from giggling.
"I am," Mira and Jarxel said together.
"Then make your mark." He held out a datapad, and each of them placed their palms against it. "Let the company know that there are witnesses to this union, and they swear to its truth." He moved to Elder Evana's side.
"And now, Jennet Adriadne Jax, do you swear to bring honor to this man, to fight with him, and for him, to defend his Clan, follow him, and cherish him to the last breath of your body?"
And love you, I added silently. "I do so swear," I said aloud.
"Canderous Calder Ordo, do you swear to bring honor to this woman, to fight with her, and for her, to defend her Clan, follow her, and cherish her to the last breath of your body?"
And love you, he said, warm in my head. Always that. "I do so swear."
"Do you, Canderous, our Mandalore, vow to shed your blood in defense of your Mate, to become one flesh, one mind, one soul?"
"I do so vow."
"Do you, Jennet, Lady of the Mandoa, vow to shed your blood in defense of your Mate, to become one flesh, one mind, one soul?"
"I do so vow."
"You may exchange rings," Elder Evana said, and a murmur rippled through the warriors behind us.
Mira handed me my father's ring, which she had stowed in a pocket. I had given it to her earlier, not sure if I could trust my hands fumbling in a pouch. I took Canderous' big hand in mine, and slipped it onto the third finger of his left hand.
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal devotion and love," I said, and suddenly wanted to cry again. But his eyes held me steady and I kept the tears away. "Wear it in honor of me."
The vow was a variation of the lines my parents had spoken when they wed; I'd added the honor part because it was true, and to make it a little more palatable to the general Mandoa population, who tend to look at wedding rings as frivolous. Not that Canderous had cared what they thought, really, when I suggested it, but I didn't want to shock them any more than I had to.
"I will wear it with honor." Canderous said, his eyes never leaving mine. He took my left hand, and slid a ring on to it. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal devotion and love. Wear it in honor of me."
"I will wear it with honor." I glanced down and only managed not to gasp by biting the inside of my lip. It was a Mobeus strip of platinum, carved all around with a floral vine. I couldn't make out exactly what the flowers were, and wasn't willing to break the seriousness of the ceremony to peer closer. But it was simple, and beautiful, and utterly perfect. It also fit exactly right. I smiled up at my Mate and sniffled discretely again.
"Before the final vows are spoken, is there any reason these two people should not be bound in honorable matrimony? Speak now, or forever hold your peace."
No one spoke. Elder Evana smiled, and continued.
"As the Mandalore and the Lady of our people, will you vow to defend our honor, lead our battles, and uphold our laws?"
"We do so vow," we said together.
"Let the chief witness come forth."
Jarxel stepped up again and bowed.
"The vows have been spoken," Elder Evana said. "Let the final binding be made."
Jarxel took Canderous' left wrist firmly and drew a dagger across his palm, quick and deep enough for blood to well freely. Then he took mine, repeating the motion. We let a few drops fall to the ground as a symbol of our willingness to bleed for our people, then clasped hands together. Elder Evana bound them with a silver cord, representing the steel of a blade.
"As you mingle your blood, you become one flesh, one mind, one soul, one heart. What has been bound together, let no one tear apart. For as long as you breathe, you are bound to each other. As Mates, you are bound for eternity. As Mandalore and Lady of the Mandoa, you are bound to the clans. Let it be known to these witnesses that Clan Ordo clan lives on, in Canderous and Jennet, and their child, and in the hearts of their people. As you bind your lives to each other, the Mandoa bind theirs to you. We will rise again, one Clan, one people. May you live together in victory and prosperity, and lead the Clan with honor."
Canderous snapped straight, his eyes going wide. I stared at him, confused and not remembering those last few lines exactly that way.
What just happened? I asked, feeling a vibration I didn't understand going through him. Then it touched me, and it felt like a lightning bolt taking up residence in my brain. My head jerked up in reflex. What's going on?
The Clans have disbanded, he said in wonder. And reformed, under me. Under us. Clan Ordo.
I could see the Republic soldiers becoming aware of something extraordinary happening. Unable to feel what it was, they were looking around uneasily. The Jedi in our wedding party exchanged looks, definitely knowing something was up, feeling the energy but not understanding its significance. It grew stronger, and I barely contained a gasp.
And they do this by electrocuting us? I asked, mentally gritting my teeth.
It's the energy of the Clans binding themselves to us, like battle ecstasy. It only happens….he trailed off, overwhelmed by a confused mix of shock, disbelief and wonder.
What? I asked sharply.
Canderous' voice in my head was almost a whisper. It only happens when a Mandalore and his true Mate are joined in marriage, and the Mandoa declare themselves one Clan. Our legends say it's only happened twice before: the first Mandalore and his Mate, when they founded the first Clan, and about two millennia ago, after the Clans were nearly decimated, and a Mandalore rose with his Mate to rebuild. His voice became uncertain. But…they're legends, stories we tell for morale around the bonfires. No one in this day and age truly believes it happened.
The energy level intensified, shooting bolts through us like small shocks from a malfunctioning control panel. I suddenly understood each one was a Mandalorian pledging themselves to the Clan, the Mandalore, and his Mate.
I think they believe it now, I said, my eyes wide.
I was trying to assimilate all this when Elder Evana's voice rose above the now rumbling crowd.
"Behold the Helm! Clan Ordo lives!" Elder Evana called, and the crowd roared back.
At this, we looked at the Helm on its stand, and it was glowing with a pure radiance. Tendrils of light were shooting out from all sides, reaching out and touching all the Mandoa. The brightest beam was focused on Canderous and me, surrounding us in a nimbus of white light. I saw a broad beam thrusting toward the sky like a sword. The Mandalorians sighed in a sort of ecstasy. The two of us could only stare, enraptured by the sight.
"Clan Ordo lives!" the battle cry ripped from a hundred throats jerked our attention from the Helm.
The honor guard came forward, going to one knee, and the rest of the Mandoa marched up the aisle to array themselves behind. The front four rows scrambled to snatch their chairs out of the way and hastily decamped as the Mandalorians crowded in and knelt. I saw Stefan, a look of deep interest and surprise on his handsome face, fold his chair quickly and stand where he could see the proceedings best.
"I present to this company, the Mandalore, Canderous Calder Ordo, and his true Mate, Jennet Adriadne Jax Ordo, Lady of the Mandoa. May they live long, and lead Clan Ordo with honor."
"Hail Mandalore and the Lady of the Mandoa!" bellowed the warriors.
"We take our vow now. We are yours, Mandalore, Lady, with the last breath of our bodies. We will fight with you, and for you, protect you and follow you, and honor you as the leaders of our Clan, and the soul of the Mandoa. So it is, so it shall be."
"So it is, so it shall be," roared the crowd.
The energy rose, the lightning becoming a deep soul-shaking hum, the hum transforming into a song of pure wild joy. It was coming from the Helm, touching the Mandoa, all of them. It raced through us, and like the battle ecstasy, circled through Canderous, me, out to all the Mandalorians, and back into the Helm which was glowing so bright it looked as if engulfed by flames. Through it all, Canderous and I stood together, hands still bound, facing each other but completely aware of the Mandoa. His eyes were bright, electric blue, blazing with the power coursing through them, and I could almost see myself through his eyes, my brown ones snapping with an amber light.
With a rush, the power circulated faster and faster and suddenly beyond that, I could feel that there were hundreds, no, thousands, all around the galaxy, that were feeling the tremor, knowing that they had a home, a purpose, a Clan. And we would find them, or they us. It was a brief instant, just a flicker of awareness for most of them. But they were ours now. There was that split second of connection, and it was gone, abruptly sucked back into the Helm. I almost fell with the suddenness of its release, but Canderous held me firmly upright.
"Oh. My. Gods," I breathed.
"I wouldn't go that far, Wildcat," Canderous said, but his eyes were as wide and startled as mine.
We stood there, and turned as one to face the Mandoa, who were all still kneeling. The rest of the guests were utterly still. We turned back to the Elders, who were also kneeling. With a touch of hysteria, I wondered if we'd all still be frozen in time here, when the rest of the Clan comes home. Then I felt Canderous shake himself mentally, and speak.
"As you were," he boomed, and the spell was broken. The Mandoa rose to their feet, saluted or bowed, and returned to their places. I saw Lorna being helped to stand by Ladria. I was still buzzed from the connection and everything seemed slightly surreal, and I could tell Canderous felt the same. But he smiled at me, and I felt steadier. Then Elder Evana spoke again.
"Mandalore, you may kiss your bride," she said breathlessly.
"It's about damn time," Canderous said, and captured my mouth with his own. I heard the roar of three hundred cheers, and then nothing else existed but my husband.